Hannah Greener and Chloroform
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Hannah Greener and Chloroform
In 1848, a year after the Scottish surgeon Sir James Simpson had discovered that chloroform was a safer and more powerful anaesthetic than ether, Hannah Greener, a healthy 15 year-old girl from the north of England became the first recorded fatality directly attributed to chloroform. She required the removal of a second toenail, several months after she had undergone a successful similar operation with diethyl ether as the anaesthetic. Two minutes after the start of the operation she was dead. The exact cause has been variously suggested, from an anaesthetic overdose to secondary complications. There was widespread popular opposition to anaesthesia but this changed after Queen Victoria received chloroform successfully during the birth of Prince Leopold in 1853
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9242567
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Anaesthesia Anaesthetic Childbirth Chloroform Overdose Surgeons Surgery Fatality James Simpson Queen Victoria
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting print captures a pivotal moment in medical history, forever etching the name of Hannah Greener into the annals of science. In 1848, at just 15 years old, this healthy girl from northern England unwittingly became the first recorded fatality directly linked to chloroform—an anaesthetic heralded as safer and more potent than its predecessor, ether. Hannah's tragic demise unfolded during a routine operation to remove her second toenail. Astonishingly, she had previously undergone a similar successful procedure with diethyl ether as the anaesthetic. However, two minutes into this fateful surgery with chloroform, Hannah's life was abruptly cut short. The exact cause of her death remains shrouded in uncertainty; theories range from an overdose of the newly introduced anaesthetic to unforeseen complications arising from its use. Regardless of the precise explanation, this devastating incident fueled widespread public opposition towards anaesthesia. However, Queen Victoria herself would play a crucial role in changing perceptions when she bravely opted for chloroform during Prince Leopold's birth in 1853—a resounding success that revolutionized childbirth practices forevermore. As we gaze upon this poignant image captured by Science Photo Library—depicting both progress and tragedy—we are reminded of how far medicine has come since those uncertain times. The legacy left behind by figures like Sir James Simpson and unfortunate souls like Hannah Greener serves as a reminder that even amidst great advancements lies an indelible human cost.
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